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December 11, 2012

Show Spotlight: United Ghosts at the Silverlake Lounge Wednesday December 12 with Nightmare Air, Nightmail and The Vigils

By Kathryn Pinto

Wednesday night Radio Free Silver Lake presents a night of heavy guitars and sultry vocals when United Ghosts play Nightmare Air’s December residency at the Silverlake Lounge. The free show starts at 8pm December 12 and also includes sets from Nightmail (formerly known as Spero) and the Vigils.

With a new album to be released in early 2013, United Ghosts guitarist/vocalist Axel Steuerwald (Mere Mortals) describes himself as a person from Europe who feels “very at home in LA these days." "There's a hazy, murky, electric-night-pulse to this place that is really interesting."” As he told Radio Free Silver Lake, the band (himself, vocalist Sha Sabi and guitartist Jason O and Drummer Sean Burgess) is influenced both by Neu-spawned Krautrock and the scene in pre-Britpop England at a moment that Steuerwald calls “wildly experimental, yet always infused with pop sensibility. Primal Scream, My Bloody Valentine, Jesus and Mary Chain and a whole slew of lesser known bands, they all had an amazing freedom of expression about them.” Equally embracing Los Angeles film culture (and talent) the band has produced a stream of noirish videos like the recent “Unhypnotized” that alternates a grimy glamour freight elevator with scenes of a cult like audience (including cameos by members of the Bixby Knolls) being de-programmed by the title song. The boy-girl harmonies and synths vs. guitar sound will prove to be just as compelling live.

United Ghosts plays Wednesday December 12, 2012 at the Silver Lake Lounge (2906 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, 90026) along with the Vigils, Nightmare Air and Nightmail. Doors open at 8pm, music at 9pm, free show, 21+.